SXSW Barbecue Run - North Austin, Texas

This is a very late and quick review by memory of the SXSW 08 Barbecue Run as hosted by the Americans! The 8 cars, travelling as a caravan, trip which consisted of a gut busting 5 Barbecue meals took us North of Austin, TX, up North and West of Lake Travis... the 50 minute car journey took us to our first venue Opie's BBQ in Spicewood Texas.

Opies

9504 E State Highway 71

Spicewood, TX 78669, USA
840-693-8660
calltodd@yahoo.com

The corn chowder and potato salad here were simply sublime. As the first venue on our tour, we were simply blown away by the quality of the meat and sides here. What a venue to start at. Beautiful slow bbq'd brisket, succulent ribs, but really it's all about the sirloin and amazing Jalapeno sausage. The Sirloin by reputation is untouchable. 9/10

Laird's BBQ
1600 Ford St.
Llano, TX 78643
325 247 5243

Another drive took us to Laird's which was a strange place. Typically (apparently) these places don't serve alcohol so several people ended up running across the road to the gas station to pick up beer. The food here was slightly disappointing considering the success of the last joint. Surprisingly one of the dishes was amazing, except I can't remember what it was. It was pork but a part of the pig that you would normally consider too interesting... sorry, it was almost 6 months ago. The pit was set slightly away from the house... and the restaurant was just that... a house. The bathroom actually had a bath in it. Yep. The pit did smell amazing. From memory. 5/10

The pit at Cooper's

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, Inc.
604 W. Young
Llano, Texas 78643
Coopersbbq.com
325 247 5713

Wow, what an entrance. The GIANT pit here forms the entrance to this grand establishment. Pork chops - three types, giant beef ribs - black and succulent give the chops a run for their money. They even made the juicy, tender, mesquite-grilled brisket and spicy jalapeño sausage, which were outstanding in comparison to other barbecue spots, seem almost tame. The sampler included chicken and I believe we even had goat. This place wasn't cheap though... with the sheer number of people in our group I remember this being some damage. 7/10

I ended up buying some BBQ rub and sauce from Coopers... yet to try them of course!


Peete Mesquite BBQ
2407 Hwy 281 N.
Marble Falls, Texas 78654
830 693 6531

By the time we are getting here... the meat sweats are truly setting in. I will still try every meat going but what stood here was the truly amazing chicken and walnut salad. Yum Yum Yum. And I had Pecan pie here. Wowowow. 7/10

Inman's Ranch House Bar-B-Que & Turkey Sausage
707 Sixth Street
Marble Falls, TX 78654
830 693 2711

All I can remember at this point, as I was heading into a food coma was that we tried the turkey sausage. It was ok. And they gave me a free Inman's Ranch House visor/cap thing which I only just round to throwing away. 5/10